Enough space for smart meter?

Ant555

Hi,
Ive had an email from BG that my meter is now too old and needs to be replaced.  Its been in here for the 22 years ive been in the house so that's probably correct.
They may choose to do the gas meter at the same time but ill leave that up to them.

Its in a box on the side of the house but I wonder if anyone can take a quick look at the pic and offer an opinion if there will be enough space for a smart meter.

The fuse box is on the inside of that wall a couple of feet above - presumably they will replace the wires if they are not long enough?
Thanks

Netexporter

Easily. It'll take a similar amount of room to the old meter. Meter boxes are a standard size, so any meter will be designed to fit.

FreeBear

That fuse box labeled "shower" appears to be unused. Get rid of it, and you'll have more than enough space.

When you get a new meter, tell them that you intend to get an EV in the near future, and they should fit an isolator switch free of charge. Even if you don't get an EV, having an isolator switch means things like a consumer unit upgrade can be done safely and without pulling the main fuse (something that few electricians are qualified/authorised to do).

Ant555

Thanks -  the 'shower' fuse box did, at one point feed an electric shower - I took the old style fuse out when we changed to a boiler fed shower - the cable now just ends in a fused white box in the boiler cupboard.next to the bathroom  I did think id use it for something in the future but havent yet had any need.

Scot_39

Re CU tails,  from posts here tails to CU are customers own responsibility if need replacing.

They might fit Henleys or other extension blocks and new tails from them to new meter if cannot make existing cu tails fit new meter.   But they look like can maybe be made to reach.

Arguably getting rid of old shower isolator - its unlikely to meet new regs anyway for any future "repurposing" - and fitting isolator switches between meter and CU tails might be a wise move in case need further internal electrical work in future - e.g. EV charger etc or new CU.  EOn fitted these for free for me as part of meter upgrade years ago.

But again there's been some debate in posts here as to whether those are suppliers or owners supply.

pete-20-11

How would someone prepare to remove the shower isolator?

Would it be possible to remove it from the board whilst still live? (E.g. connected but not mounted). Or at least remove the cables heading towards the house?

I’m guessing a meter fitter wouldn’t want to remove it, but if it was already off the board, they could disconnect the tails when they arrive?

Or ask them to disconnect the tails, then you remove the isolator, then they continue with their work?

FreeBear

Scot_39 said:

Re CU tails,  from posts here tails to CU are customers own responsibility if need replacing.

They might fit Henleys or other extension blocks and new tails from them to new meter if cannot make existing cu tails fit new meter.   But they look like can maybe be made to reach.

Arguably getting rid of old shower isolator - its unlikely to meet new regs anyway for any future "repurposing" - and fitting isolator switches between meter and CU tails might be a wise move in case need further internal electrical work in future - e.g. EV charger etc or new CU.  EOn fitted these for free for me as part of meter upgrade years ago.

Fit an isolator switch, and there wouldn't be a need to use henley blocks to extend the tails.

Remove the 6mm² cable exiting the fuse box, and the meter fitter could disconnect the tails running to it. If he/she was unwilling to remove the box from the wall, it would take the OP a minute or so to rip it out (pry bar for speed, screwdriver for neatness).

Ant555

Thanks for all the replies,

Just for my curiosity - do the meter fitters do this 'live' as the black bit at the bottom is presumably permanently live or do they open that up and isolate it temporarily then replace the official seals afterwards?

Netexporter

They pull the main fuse.

After I had my smart meter fitted I requested a fuse upgrade in anticipation of getting a heat pump. The DNO not only changed the fuse put the whole service head. That was done live. I didn't dare look.

Ant555

Thanks @Netexporter - in my pic, is the 'main fuse' part of the black bit at the bottom?

I have a manual switch inside my house after the meter, before the fuse box but I dont know if that is a fuse as well.

Thanks

BarelySentientAI

Ant555 said:

Thanks @Netexporter - in my pic, is the 'main fuse' part of the black bit at the bottom?

I have a manual switch inside my house after the meter, before the fuse box but I dont know if that is a fuse as well.

Thanks

Yes, the main fuse is inside the sticky-out-part of the black bit.

The one inside your house is probably an isolator.